This Week - The Bulldogs will travel to Midland (Mich.) on Friday (Sept. 29) to take part in a showdown at Northwood. The Timberwolves are 15-2 and ranked sixth in the latest American Volleyball Coaches Association (AVCA) national poll. Ferris State was tied for 25th in last week's ratings. Northwood has won 12-straight matches. Both schools are undefeated in conference action. Northwood is the defending GLIAC champion and defeated Ferris State 3-0 in last year's GLIAC Tournament championship game. Match time is slated for 7 p.m. On Saturday (Sept. 30), FSU will travel to University Center (Mich.) as the Bulldogs play at Saginaw Valley State. The Cardinals are 4-12 overall and 0-5 in the conference. Saturday's match will start at 3 p.m.
Outstanding performance - Senior Sarah VanderMolen had an outstanding match on Saturday against Gannon as she recorded her second triple-double performance of the season. Just 17 players had recorded triple-double performances this season on the NCAA Division II level entering the weekend. VanderMolen had a season-high 22 kills, 12 digs and 10 blocks. In the fifth game against Gannon, the All-American candidate ignited Ferris State as she scored the final four points of the match on three kills and a block. Earlier this season, VanderMolen had a triple-double performance against nationally-ranked Northern Kentucky. The 5-11 hitter leads Ferris State in kills, digs, blocks and service aces this season. She also ranks second on the squad in set assists.
Career Day - Junior Erin Minnis had a career high 22 kills on 50 attacks against Gannon on Saturday. Her previous high had been 16 kills on 41 attacks recorded last year against Wheeling Jesuit (W.Va.). In the third set, the 6-0 middle hitter had five kills in the final three points of the set. She added 10 kills against Mercyhurst on Friday and ranks second on the team with 185 kills this season.
Best Outing To Date - Freshman setter Jamie Wirth had her best day as a Bulldog on Saturday as she recorded a season high 65 set assists. In that match, she also had eight digs and four kills for Ferris State. Wirth is averaging 11.98 assists per game and has 671 assists this season. She has started all 16 matches for FSU.
Bulldog Bites - Through 16 matches, Ferris State continues to post its best start ever. No other Bulldog squad has started 15-1. Earlier this season, FSU became the first team in school history to start 10-0. . .Ferris State lost the second game in both matches this past weekend. Prior to this past weekend, the Bulldogs had not lost a second game all season. FSU is now 14-2 in the second set. . .Coach Tia Brandel needs just one victory to record her 100th win at Ferris State. She now needs just nine wins to move into second place on the career victory list. . .Sophomore Alaina Olds recorded a career high 16 kills against Gannon. Her previous best of 12 had came last season against Wheeling Jesuit (W.Va.). . .The Bulldogs played 12 different people against Mercyhurst on Friday. . .Sarah VanderMolen needs just 86 digs to become a member of the program's 1,000 career digs club. She needs 50 kills to move into ninth place on the career kills chart.